The sun warmed the deck.

Soothed nerves left raw by the stress of term papers and finals.

Sorcha lay beside Malcolm, content to do nothing for the next month but sleep and work on getting a tan.

Or she would if he'd stop fidgeting.

"Am I going to have to tie you down?"

Malcolm breathed out a sound that bordered on a laugh.

"You'd enjoy that too much."

"So would you." She squinted an eye open. "But I figured we'd save the bondage for after my folks went to bed..."

"You didn't pack my restraints."

"Dad has handcuffs."

Interest brightened Malcolm's face. Deepened the blue of his eyes. "I doubt he'd let you borrow them just to handcuff me to the bed."

"No, but thinking about me handcuffing you to the bed has got you to stay still."

"Could we not discuss my liking you cuffing me to the bed?" His face suffused with color. "Your parents could hear and get upset."

"I have a perfectly logical argument to use if they hear and object."

"Oh?" One eyebrow quirked. "And what is it?"

"They keep you from fidgeting."

Mal breathed out a small laugh.

"I'm sorry I'm so restless."

"Why don't you try telling me why you're so restless?" Not that she didn't have a pretty good idea. "School?"

"No."

"Being here for the next two weeks while Gil and Jackie are visiting her folks in Florida?"

"You know I love it here."

"Is it the dinner party your mother is forcing you to attend this weekend?"

"No— well, yes," Malcolm instantly corrected. "That is part of it." His fingers brushed her arm. A silent request. One she obliged without having to consider it. "You'll be there, though, so I won't be alone."

"Then why are you so anxious?" A thought occurred to her. "Does this have to do with your..." She swallowed back her hate before saying, "Father?"

The Bastard Who Needed To Die A Horrible Death.

As she liked to call Martin Whitly.

"I normally see him when I'm on break."

Sorcha bit her tongue to keep from saying the first thing that popped into her mind. Malcolm was still fragile. She'd need to tread lightly to avoid sending him spiraling back down the rabbit hole.

Her parents house really couldn't withstand Hurricane Malcolm.

"We agreed you'd avoid any contact with your father until the semester ends."

"I know. It's just..."

"You feel guilty." She squeezed his fingers. "I understand that, Mal. He's your father. Wait a bit longer to see him, though." A thousand years from now sounds good, she added silently. "That way you won't risk missing the start of summer classes."

His brow puckered as he considered her suggestion. Sorcha half expected him to refuse, to say he needed to see his father while they were on break, and that he'd ask her father or Sean to take him if she wouldn't.

So, it surprised her when Malcolm said, "Okay," before covering his eyes with his arm.

A/N: Hello, all! Hope this finds you well!

I just want to send a special thank you to Rookblonkorules for their lovely reviews!